🔊 Can Wolverhampton secure their first home victory in the Premier League against Everton? The Wolves have shown they can triumph at Molineux, as evidenced by their League Cup win over West Ham. Everton are heading into this away fixture with back-to-back wins, though those victories came on home turf. It's uncertain if the Toffees will resort to the defensive tactics seen in their opening Premier League match. In our analysis, we'll explore which club has a better chance to build on their recent success and add three points to their tally.

Head-to-Head

📊 Over the past five seasons, these teams have clashed exclusively in the Premier League. In their last 10 encounters, Wolverhampton hold the edge with 5 victories compared to Everton's 3. The teams have also drawn twice, both times with a 1-1 scoreline.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Team Overview

🐺 The Wolves, after suffering two consecutive Premier League defeats to Manchester City (0-4) and Bournemouth (0-1), finally secured their first victory. Although this win came in the EFL Cup, it remains a significant achievement, especially considering how the match unfolded. By the 63rd minute, Wolverhampton were trailing 1-2 at Molineux, but Jørgen Strand Larsen came off the bench to save the day, scoring twice between the 82nd and 84th minutes to clinch the game. In their latest Premier League match, despite the loss, the Wolves still showed their teeth. Even after a red card early in the second half, Vítor Pereira's side continued to press with positional attacks, maintaining a respectable 41% possession against 59%, though it wasn't enough to avoid defeat.

🔝 Progression to the EFL Cup Round of 16 was gifted to Wolverhampton by two newcomers – Jørgen Strand Larsen and Jackson Tchatchoua. The striker earned a permanent move from Celta following a productive loan spell last season with the Wolves in the Premier League, netting 14 goals. Typically a starting player, the Norwegian proved to be a super-sub against West Ham, coming off the bench to make an impact in the final 10 minutes. He was assisted by former Verona player Jackson Tchatchoua, who provided the decisive pass for the winning goal.

Everton Team Overview

🔵 David Moyes learned from the defeat to Leeds in the first round (0-1), and his team started on the front foot against Brighton. This approach paid off with a goal in the 23rd minute: after a slick exchange between newcomers Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish, the ball found its way to Iliman Ndiaye, who tapped it into the net. The second goal came early in the second half, again courtesy of a Grealish assist, as James Garner unleashed a powerful strike into the back of the net. Midweek, Everton navigated their way through the EFL Cup's 1/32 finals, comfortably dispatching Mansfield Town from the third tier (2-0).

⚪️ The Toffees weren't done with their transfer business, as news broke just before the cup match of Tyler Dibling's signing for €40.5 million. The 19-year-old forward made his debut against Mansfield Town, playing 31 minutes. However, it's worth highlighting Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish, whose impactful performances secured Everton's first Premier League victory. We might be witnessing the birth of a new partnership, as Ndiaye's goal came from the Englishman's assist.

Latest news

Wolverhampton Wanderers

📝 Stranna Larsen's impressive form, carrying over from last season, has caught Newcastle's eye as the transfer window draws to a close. Despite recently sealing a full transfer to Wolverhampton for €27 million, the Magpies preemptively upped the ante, offering double that amount. However, Molineux were unwilling to part with the player. Newcastle are not giving up and are preparing an improved offer of €60 million.

❌ In the second round of the Premier League against Bournemouth, Ki-Jana Hoever was forced off due to an injury. The summer signing managed only 108 minutes across two matches before being sidelined with a knee injury.

Everton

🎙 “Providing assists is crucial for me. Scoring goals is vital in football, but playing alongside Kevin De Bruyne has taught me a lot. Personally, I believe that assisting is just as important as scoring – it’s a unique feeling. I’m not saying I didn’t feel free at Manchester City. However, the last time I played a full 90 minutes was probably in April or March, about four or five months ago. I think today I wasn’t at my best. I hope I can perform much better. It’s a pleasure to play for this team at this stadium,” Jack Grealish shared after his standout performance against Brighton.

❌ Good news from the medical team regarding Vitalii Mykolenko: the full-back has fully recovered from his preseason injury and played 87 minutes against Mansfield Town. Defenders Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson are still recovering from injuries sustained before the Premier League campaign began.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The upcoming match will be officiated by Michael Oliver. On August 26, we saw him in action during the Champions League qualification playoff between Pafos and Red Star Belgrade, where the English referee handed out six cards. However, in the Premier League, he tends to be more lenient, showing only one yellow card over two rounds and averaging 3.7 in his last 20 matches.

Unlike the referee, the upcoming opponents lack such restraint, especially in their head-to-head encounters—averaging five yellow cards in their last seven meetings. We'll settle on something average and bet on over 3.5 total yellow cards.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

In the second round during Everton's home game, we observed David Moyes' side abandon their passive start seen against Leeds. However, the Toffees have yet to be tested away from home. Wolverhampton approaches this fixture after an exhausting victory over West Ham, with all key players featuring. We don't expect the hosts to produce another high-scoring performance. The memory of Everton's "bus" against Leeds still lingers. A bet on under 2.5 total goals seems well-founded in this case.

🚩 Corner Prediction

With Everton's 195cm newcomer Thierno Barry yet to become a regular starter and Iliman Ndiaye in excellent form, it's clear that the Toffees can't rely on a dependable target man to finish crosses. This was confirmed in their first two league games with only four corners earned. Wolverhampton hasn't fared much better, with a total of seven corners between them. Furthermore, in their head-to-head matchups, both teams have shown little inclination towards corner flags—earning less than 9.5 combined in six of their last seven matches. The high odds allow for a safe bet on under 10.5 total corners.

Bookmakers don't see a clear favorite in this match, giving a slight edge to the home side. The Wolves are riding high after an emotional comeback in the cup against West Ham, but will they be physically ready? The level of the opponent allowed David Moyes to field a less-than-full-strength lineup, so there's speculation his squad might be fresher for Saturday's game.

Vítor Pereira's team's form in the Premier League is disheartening—Wolverhampton have gone winless in their last ten matches. We believe that even if the Toffees don't show much attacking prowess, Moyes could easily switch to a solid defensive mode, as he did in the first round against Leeds, and secure a comfortable 1-0 victory in their favor. We suggest taking advantage of the visitors' underdog status and betting that Everton will not lose.